Physiatrist (fizz ee at' trist) is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries. They see patients in all age groups and treat problems that touch upon all the major systems in the body. These specialists focus on restoring function to people.

To become a physiatrist, individuals must successfully complete four years of graduate medical education and four additional years of postdoctoral residency training.

Physiatrists treat acute and chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders. They may see a person who lifts a heavy object at work and experiences back pain, a basketball player who sprains an ankle and needs rehabilitation to play again, or a knitter who has carpal tunnel syndrome. Physiatrists' patients include people with arthritis, tendonitis, any kind of back pain, and work or sports-related injuries.

Physiatrists can perform the following procedures:

Physical therapy is administered by licensed professionals to help ease pain and restore the function of an injured area. Physical therapists utilize various modalities...

To reduce pain:

To restore function:

Chiropractors specialize in the non-drug treatment of musculoskeletal problems, including joint sprains and disc injuries. When needed, chiropractors use x-rays to screen for fractures and other bone disorders, such as osteoporosis.

Chiropractic treatments usually involve adjusting the joints and bones in a person's spine using gentle movements to help restore the natural balance that was there before the injury.

Chiropractic is based on the theory that many medical disorders may be caused by dislocations in the spine. Chiropractic medicine originated in the late 1800s in the United States. About 12% to 15% of the population of the United States receives treatment from chiropractors.